Public Awareness Survey on Antibiotics

Widespread antibiotic use

Most of the survey respondents - 65% - reported having taken antibiotics in the six months before responding to the survey.
Where do people get antibiotics?

Most of the respondents said a clinician, and 93% said they obtained the medications from a pharmacy.
Knowledge about antibiotics

One-quarter of respondents noted they think it is acceptable to use antibiotics that were given to a family member.
Key Recommendation 1

Obtain a better understanding of why antibiotics are being used without having been prescribed.
Key Recommendation 2

Increase public understanding about judicious antibiotic use.

Tackling antibiotic resistance is a high priority for both global and federal health officials. The World Health Organization recently commissioned a survey, carried out in September/October 2015, among some 10000 members of the public in 12 countries on antibiotics.The report’s findings are summarized in the slideshow above. The survey’s publication was part of a global campaign, ‘Antibiotics: Handle with Care’, unveiled during the first World Antibiotic Awareness Week, November 16-22, 2015. The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness and encourage best practices among the public, policymakers, health and agriculture professionals to avoid the further emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. A global action plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance was endorsed at the World Health Assembly in May 2015. One of the plan’s five objectives is to improve awareness and understanding of antibiotic resistance through effective communication, education and training.

Slideshow

Widespread antibiotic use

Where do people get antibiotics?

Knowledge about antibiotics

Key Recommendation 1

Key Recommendation 2

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